Flights in Dreams and in Reality

On the eve of his fortieth birthday, Sergei Makarov begins to reflect on his life. He feels that none of his wife, mistress, work, or friends brings lasting satisfaction. The moment sets the tone for a search for meaning that runs through the film.

The film states that a man can achieve much at forty, yet his previous ideals lose value. Sergei feels that his life is hollow, and he is not bound to his wife except by obligation. His restlessness grows as emptiness gnaws at him.

Sergei develops an attraction for a young girl named Alisa. The feeling stands in sharp contrast to his existing relationships and fuels his sense that change could be possible, even if he isn't sure what form it should take.

Larisa, a coworker at the drawing board, loves Sergei, but he ignores her feelings. He nevertheless borrows and uses her car, knowing she would help him, highlighting his impulsive reliance on others while maintaining emotional distance.

Sergei's supervisor, Nikolai Pavlovich, loves Larisa but does not receive reciprocation. The unspoken attraction adds to the mounting complications in Sergei's social circle and underscores the messy web of desire around him.

Alisa has a boyfriend, a young man who is skilled at wooing her. He easily defeats Sergei in an arm wrestling match, illustrating Sergei's slipping edge in social and romantic arenas.

Sergei invites colleagues and his young sweetheart to his fortieth birthday party. During the party, the arm wrestling winner's confidence grows louder, and Sergei shouts 'cock-a-doodle-doo' under the table in a moment of uncontrolled impulse.

The summary describes Sergei rushing between people and performing strange acts in the hope of a life-changing moment. This depicts his relentless search for something beyond routine life, even if the actions seem erratic to those around him.

In a kitchen conversation, Nicholai Pavlovich bluntly calls Sergei sick and questions his understanding of his own condition. The boss's frank words crystallize the recognition of Sergei's crisis for those around him.

The film hints that much of what Sergei wanted was vanity and empty success. He begins to confront the hollowness of his goals as he circles between relationships and social circles.

Despite attracting attention from Larisa and others, Sergei remains unsettled, continuing to seek change without finding a satisfying answer. His behavior mirrors the broader sense of midlife doubt that defines the story.

The summary centers on Sergei's struggle rather than a neat conclusion, leaving the audience with the sense that the midlife crisis is ongoing and unresolved. The film closes with a tone of ambiguity about what comes next.